Ban calls for 3 per cent cut to UN budget in face of global economic slowdown

9 March 2011  Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is seeking a 3 per cent cut in the next United Nations budget below the current two-year figure of $5.16 billion, in line with the sluggish global economy as the world struggles to emerge from the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

“We must be realistic about the current economic climate,” he told senior managers of the budget for 2012-2013. “Even the wealthiest nations are tightening their belts and cutting budgets. The United Nations must be no less disciplined. We cannot go about business as usual.”

It will be up to Member States to discuss and decide on the ultimate budget to be adopted by the General Assembly in December for the two-year period.

“The Secretary-General encourages all UN entities and UN Member States to find ways to do more with less,” spokesperson Martin Nesirky told a news briefing today.

The current two-year budget is over 20 per cent more than that for the previous two-year period of 2008-2009, which totalled $4.17 billion.